SNCA refers to the gene that provides instructions for making the alpha-synuclein protein. This protein is abundant in the brain, particularly at nerve cell terminals, where it plays a role in neurotransmitter release. Aberrant forms and misfolded aggregates of alpha-synuclein, stemming from defects in the SNCA gene, are strongly associated with Parkinson disease and other neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies. 🤔